Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
strider_mt2k said 9:45AM on 5-25-2009
Think of it as evolution in action.
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John said 10:54AM on 5-25-2009
This is just one more "stupid" in a world of them.
It's too bad if their insurance company has to pay for it. It wasn't an accident--it was stupidity. Yeah, I know--we don't have laws against stupitidy.
They should sue her & her parents--get a judgement and keep it on the books for the rest of her life, or-until it's paid off.
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brad said 12:24PM on 5-25-2009
her mom was interviewed on tv saying her daughter is a good kid and was only going to get lunch. lol.. ok so your daughter or no one else got hurt but what if she killed someone? theres another 16 yr old girl who got away scot-free after running over a woman in the street, maybe b/c her daddy is super-rich.
http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/article1002474.ece
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jbjg24m said 3:47PM on 5-25-2009
TAKE THE DAMN CELL PHONES AWAY FROM THESE DAMN TEENAGERS NOW !!! BAN THE DAMN THINGS!!!
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attyclay said 7:14PM on 5-27-2009
If you ban it for them you ban it for all and once again you allow the government to control more of your life. Then we end up getting closer to a tyrant usa then youll be the one trying to find another place to live and be free.
Use your brain dont give up your rights.
Gregory Dittmer said 4:30PM on 5-25-2009
The entire cell phone issue is unbelievably stupid!
I just cannot see why people cannot drive without finding the need to be on a telephone. I have seen people pulling out of their driveway while dialing on the cell. I something is that damn important, use the land line BEFORE you get into your car! How do these idiots think the human race has survived all this time without a cell phone and iPod?!
When I was growing up a mobile phone was the size of a suitcase and was basically just a radio transceiver. We had to do complex equations on a slide rule, today, most kids don't even know what that is. We actually had to learn how to tell time by the position of the big hand and little hand, we used dictionaries and encyclopedias, most kids today don't know how to use either one. Hell, even cashiers had to know how to figure out change rather than rely on what the LED tells you.
Okay, so I'm old, but none worse the wear for having to use my brain once in a while!
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Patricia Barbaro said 5:19PM on 5-25-2009
it is time to arrest these fool, why must all people be subjected to these dangerrous idiots?
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paul said 8:50PM on 5-25-2009
you cannot take phones away from this stupid teenagers who think that know all & can do all...what needs to be done is work with technology & make it so when they get into thier car the bluetooth connects & they have no need to hold the phone & on the same token, when the car is in motion make it so texting is not available unless they are in park. do this & things will be a whole lot better
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